Columbia, S.C.- The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) in a letter today notified the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that its request to extend the closure date of the Savannah River Site facility has been denied.

Upon sending the letter, DHEC released the following statement:

The liquid radioactive and toxic waste in aging tanks at Savannah River Site is currently one of the greatest environmental threats to the State of South Carolina. By not accepting the DOE's request to extend the closure date for two tanks, we are holding the agency accountable to its responsibility of meeting its timeline and supporting risk reduction.